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Edmonton's Inner City Youth

Edmonton's inner city communities have long been abandoned and neglected by the larger Edmonton society. You may often drive by without stopping or just read about the issues those communities are facing in the newspaper. However, if you haven't taken the time to stop and learn about your neighbours, you would be missing something really special.

If you visited Edmonton's inner city communities, you would see how resilient the youth are. You would be amazed that despite the barriers and obstacles that have been put in their way, many of them are overcoming these issues through education, the arts, and involving themselves in a variety of community programs.

If you visited Inner City High School or Boyle Street Education Centre, you would hear youth tell you horror stories of how they were treated in the traditional school system. You would hear how the issues of poverty have impacted their learning. But you would also see their determination to succeed despite the hand they have been dealt. You would see them laughing and dancing and singing together because they have a remarkable quality to find a light even in the darkest of times.

If you walked the streets of Edmonton's inner city communities you would also see youth participating in activities that you may not approve of. However, you would see that many are just trying to escape the pain and indifference that society has shown to them.

If you get the chance to spend some time in Edmonton's inner city communities, you can't help but feel connected to the smiling faces, the sense of community, and the desire to do whatever it is you can to make a difference for our cities inner city youth.

Edmonton's inner city youth are intelligent, resilient, and filled with talent to create the positive communities that Edmonton's inner city residents deserve.

It's time we celebrate Edmonton's inner city youth. Or at the very least, consider that their issues deserve more attention and commitment than we're currently giving them.